Falcons, BG fans putting faith in @ChurchofDufour

Kevin Dufour’s original hockey plans didn’t include playing collegiately in the United States.

Like many Quebec natives, he planned on playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and perhaps Canadian college hockey.

But once he starting learning about U.S. college hockey, the more he thought it was a viable option.

Dufour eventually committed to Bowling Green, and he has been a contributor since his first game with the Falcons.

This season, the sophomore left wing leads the nation with eight goals and is tied for the lead in power-play goals with three. He has a goal in every game for the Falcons, 4-1-1 overall and 2-0 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

The next challenge facing BG comes Friday and Saturday when it hosts 13th-ranked Minnesota State (4-2, 2-0) at 7:07 p.m. The Mavericks were the coaches pick to win the league championship this season.

“Just good timing, being in the right place, trying to work hard, being opportunistic,” the Quebec City native said of his start. “I’ve tried to focus on the process and the details of my game, and not worry about anything else. The puck just happens to be going in.”

Dufour’s success also is the result of clicking on a line with classmates Pierre-Luc Mercier, who plays center; and Matt Pohlkamp, who plays right wing.

In addition to Dufour’s eight goals, Mercier has a goal and five assists, and Pohlkamp has a goal and four assists. The three also played together at times last season.

“We can find each other on the ice pretty well,” Dufour said. “We like playing with each other.”

All three have good size — including the 6-foot, 195-pound Dufour — and are able to control the puck down low in the offensive zone. By doing so, they’re able to generate scoring chances.

“We win our one-on-one battles,” Dufour said. “Our line is pretty complete. We can all battle. We all have good vision. We can all score.”

And the three live together, along with classmate and goalie Tomas Sholl. Dufour and Mercier also were roommates last season.

“That probably helps,” Dufour said. “We communicate well with each other. We like playing on the same line.”

Dufour has been a scorer throughout his career, including the 2012-13 season when he had 26 goals and 32 assists for Carleton Place, Ontario, in the Central Canadian (Junior) Hockey League.

He then had a solid freshman season at BG, totaling nine goals and seven assists in 37 games. He missed just two games, Nov. 1-2 at Alaska.

Dufour was one of BG’s best players down the stretch, totaling five goals and two assists in the final 10 games. He also earned ice time on the power play.

While he has produced offensively, Dufour is working to improve his defensive and play without the puck. He had an on-ice rating of plus-6 last season and is plus-1 in six games this season.

“I want the coaches to trust me so they can play me in every situation,” Dufour said. “Last year, I had to get used to the system, but this year is easier because I’m used to it. I can just go out there and play and have fun. It’s a lot more simple.

“Just a year of experience has made a big difference. I know what’s expected and what I have to do. Having to do it in practice makes a difference. You’re constantly working at it.”

Dufour also has increased his strength over last season and is in better shape.

“I feel good out there. I feel in good shape,” Dufour said. “I worked hard all summer.”

Dufour and Mercier, who is from Verdun, Quebec, were discovered by BG assistant coach Ty Eigner. The two were at a prospect camp in Montreal run by Clarkson assistant coach Phil Roy.

Falcon head coach Chris Bergeron said Dufour and his Quebec high school hockey teammates eventually took a 12- to 13-hour bus trip to BG to learn about the Falcons and U.S. college hockey.

“I didn’t even know about Bowling Green or college hockey in the states,” Dufour said. “But I made the trip (to BG) and learned to like it the more I learned.”

Dufour and Mercier are the first Quebec natives to play for the Falcons in almost 30 years.

Mercier was a late recruit, visiting BG in the summer of 2013 and committing to the Falcons in the middle of July.

“Over four years, we’ve had to look in non-traditional places,” Bergeron said of BG’s recruiting. “Ty and Barry (assistant coach Schutte) have done a great job of working hard to build relationships in a lot of different areas.

“Ty has created those relationships with people in Montreal at the junior hockey and high school levels, and those relationships yielded Dufour and Mercier.”

Dufour, who is fluent in French, is steadily learning the English language. He took an English program during his season with Carleton Place.

The Minnesota-born Pohlkamp and the California-born Sholl also are helping Dufour and Mercier with their English.

“The guys are always joking about my accent, but it’s getting better,” Dufour said. “They help me with my English and correct me when I say something wrong or they say this might be a better way to say it.”

Dufour is developing a cult following with BG fans, thanks to his eight goals. He already has a Twitter account named for him, @ChurchofDufour. The #ChurchofDufour has become a hashtag, too.

Earlier this week, Dufour’s girlfriend chided him on Twitter for not having a Twitter account, even though #ChurchofDufour already was trending.

“He’s a great kid, an overachiever, and he works really hard,” Bergeron said. “He deserves to be confident because of where he’s at physically. We expected him to contribute offensively.”

“He wants to be the best player on the team,” Bergeron added. “He has high expectations. He’s willing to work to get to that level.”

Bergeron said Dufour has improved his defense this season without his offense suffering.

“Last year, he was trying to figure it all out at the same time, and he wasn’t able to contribute offensively until the end of the year,” Bergeron said. “Now, he continues to set the bar higher and higher, and our expectations continue to go up.”

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About Kevin Gordon

Kevin joined BGSUHockey.com after wrapping up a 27-year run as the Falcon hockey beat writer for the Sentinel-Tribune. After providing another two years of the Falcon hockey coverage fans had grown to love over the past three decades, Kevin decided to hang up his notebook and is now enjoying the retired life. Please join us by sending Kevin a tweet and thank him for all the time he's dedicated to BGSU hockey: @KGordonBG.

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